Please explain Deut twenty-two five in light of women wearing ladies pants?
Deuteronomy 22:5 reads, “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” The Book of Deuteronomy was given to the Israelites after the inauguration of Judaism, which took place at Mt. Sinai. Obviously, the precepts that are in Deuteronomy, as such, have no regulatory power respecting the God-given law that preceded Judaism (i.e., Patriarchy), unless something given by God under Patriarchy was also included in Judaism. However, does a law under Judaism necessarily apply to the religious age, in which we live (i.e., Christianity)? Again, if a law under Judaism is repeated under Christianity, then such a requirement has force now, not because it was a law under Judaism, but because it is a law of God under Christianity. Additionally, something that was a law under a previous God-given system of religion (i.e., Patriarchy, Judaism), though the specifics do not apply now since they are not included in the New Testament, may have some bearing today due to the principle involved.
In this case, the New Testament does not forbid women from wearing garments usually worn by men. However, the principle that Deuteronomy 22:5 addressed is applicable today. That is, it has always been the case from creation through the present that God intends for men and women to occupy distinctive, complementary but different roles (1 Corinthians 11:3; 14:34-35; Ephesians 5:22-26; 1 Timothy 2:11-13). At no time more urgently than the present, society and even Christians need to be reminded of this.
From our vantage, there was little difference between the garb of males and females during the time when Deuteronomy 22:5 was effective. Yet, God determined that men and women would retain their respective roles, including for men and women not to wear the clothes of the opposite sex. Both Patriarchy and Judaism have been replaced with Christianity (Ephesians 2:14-22; Colossians 2:14; Romans 7:1-7; 2 Corinthians 3:11; Hebrews 8:6-7). Hence, strictly speaking, Deuteronomy 22:5 does not apply today and neither men nor women are biblically forbidden from wearing clothes that the opposite sex might wear. Still, though, God intends for men and women to retain their respective, God-given roles in the home and the church.
(Additional reasons for which Deuteronomy 22:5 may have forbidden confusion of clothing between men and women, include: (1) Pagans sometimes worshipped Venus by women appearing before the idol in men’s armor while men wore women’s clothes. (2) As women’s garments usually covered all of the woman’s legs but the man’s garment was shorter, exchanging garments may have encouraged lust. (3) Men wearing women’s garments may have indicated effeminate behavior, whereas women wearing men’s garments may have indicated their adoption of masculine qualities.)
